Eager to start building boxes

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

I guess it just depends on the employee you get.

Like I said the guy at Lowes did an awesome job getting my cuts exactly perfect. The guy at home depot just said we don't do precision cuts and sent me on my way.

Although I did notice going to home depot and lowes a lot recently, that Lowes seems to have much better customer service. Home Depot is like a freaking ghost town, I swear sometimes they have 2 employees in the whole store, whereas as lowes has so many people standing around I wonder how they make any money

 

[type[s5] 10+ year member]

I guess it just depends on the employee you get.
Like I said the guy at Lowes did an awesome job getting my cuts exactly perfect. The guy at home depot just said we don't do precision cuts and sent me on my way.

Although I did notice going to home depot and lowes a lot recently, that Lowes seems to have much better customer service. Home Depot is like a freaking ghost town, I swear sometimes they have 2 employees in the whole store, whereas as lowes has so many people standing around I wonder how they make any money

lol both seemed like they had a ton of workers that appeared to just be standing/walking around.

If anything, Home Depot always keeps me coming back because for some odd reason, there's always a few hot women that shop there at any given time. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

 

[hempy 10+ year member]

I'd totally go far a table saw with as much of your cash as possible. It's best to get fewer better pieces of equipment than a bunch of cheap ones. A router's going to be a pretty heft investment as well, as the cheapest one's ofter top 50 bucks new, and you most likely need carbid tips if you want them to make it through multiple builds. MDF eats through tools. Even cheap bits are often at least 3 bucks apiece.

If you do plan on doing your own cutting in the future, may I suggest a carpentry ruler? They're the folding expandable one. My grandfather gave me the one he'd been using for decades, and it's honestly my favorite tool. They work so much better than tape measures for woodworking, especially when making sure the fence on a table saw is set right.

Just take your time. A good collection can be had cheaply over time, but rushing into things may leave you replacing tools every few months.

 

[type[s5] 10+ year member]

I'd totally go far a table saw with as much of your cash as possible. It's best to get fewer better pieces of equipment than a bunch of cheap ones. A router's going to be a pretty heft investment as well, as the cheapest one's ofter top 50 bucks new, and you most likely need carbid tips if you want them to make it through multiple builds. MDF eats through tools. Even cheap bits are often at least 3 bucks apiece.
If you do plan on doing your own cutting in the future, may I suggest a carpentry ruler? They're the folding expandable one. My grandfather gave me the one he'd been using for decades, and it's honestly my favorite tool. They work so much better than tape measures for woodworking, especially when making sure the fence on a table saw is set right.

Just take your time. A good collection can be had cheaply over time, but rushing into things may leave you replacing tools every few months.

Ahh thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep that in mind //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I agree about getting better equipment. I'll probably realize this if anything that I've already bought breaks or something within the next year, or even in less than a year. But a lot of times, cheapie tools get the job done just the way you want.

The router I purchased was $60 bucks and the straight carbide-tip bit was around $13 >_

 

[type[s5] 10+ year member]

Was it a plung router, or a cheaaap one, I'm guessing a cheap one, did you get a 1/4" straight bit? The reason being was because I had a hard time using a 1/2" bit on 3/4" mdf, so with my plung router, I was able to adjust the depth and cut a little at a time, but if you got a 1/4" bit, it should be easier.

It was cheap... yes it only takes 1/4" bits. Don't think i'll be needing the ability to use 1/2" bits anytime soon.

Plunge router? I'm able to adjust the depth slowly via an adjustable knob, if that's what you mean...

 

[CrazedCat 10+ year member]

;3162381']Ahh thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep that in mind //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif
I agree about getting better equipment. I'll probably realize this if anything that I've already bought breaks or something within the next year' date=' or even in less than a year. But a lot of times, cheapie tools get the job done just the way you want.

The router I purchased was $60 bucks and the straight carbide-tip bit was around $13 >_

Cheap power tools = expensive emergency room bills

Carbide Up Spiral (upcut) bits work best for general straight cutting.

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

Ok well I just got back from Lowes, and I'm definitely going there again.

They did all my cuts for me and only charged me for about half of them. Not only that, but the guy who did my cuts was an MECP certified (advanced level) installer. He did perfect cuts, and the box lays out perfectly. He even cut the scraps to the internal height of the box so if something gets messed up on one of the walls I only have to cut it to length.

We had a nice talk about car audio stuff while he was helping me out, nice guy, definitely going back //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

I agree with the home depot MDF. It is far too soft and flaky, which makes it far easier to split and oversink your screwheads.